UN mission confirms use of chemical weapons in Syria

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has urged the Security Council to act urgently to ensure enforcement and compliance with the agreement reached over the weekend between the Russian Federation and the United States on a framework to eliminate Syria's chemical weapons.

The Secretary-General submitted the report of the chemical weapons investigation team to the Security Council on Monday.

He told reporters after briefing the Council that the report makes for chilling reading, noting that 85 per cent of the blood samples tested positive for S arin.

According to the Secretary-General, the results are overwhelming and indisputable.

“After two and a half years of tragedy, now is the time for the Security Council to show leadership and exercise its moral and political responsibilities. There must be accountability for the use of chemical weapons. Any use of chemical weapons by anyone, anywhere, is a crime. But our message today must be more than: Do not slaughter your people with gas. There must also be no impunity for the crimes being committed with conventional weapons.” (22″)

Secretary-General Ban said the international community has a responsibility to ensure that chemical weapons never re-emerge as an instrument of warfare.

He said the humanitarian situation in Syria is desperate. The people are living under siege.